title: Homeless mentally ill in Athens area: a cross-sectional study on unmet needs and help-seeking.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Homelessness, a worldwide psychosocial phenomenon, is now also prevalent in Greece, mainly in Athens area.
  
  
  METHODS
  The possible psychiatric morbidity related to help-seeking and the underlying factors were explored in a sample of 254 homeless people from Greater Athens area, using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sample was predominantly male (74%) with mean age of 51 years, being in their majority homeless for over 25 months, 34.3% of them living in rough sleeping places. Overall, 56.7% of the sample met the criteria for a current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) psychiatric disorder with 20.8% comorbidity. Only 36.2% of the identified psychiatric cases had any recent psychiatric care, while 44.4% were taking non-prescribed medication and 20.2% have been hospitalized in the last year. On the contrary, 70% of alcohol- and drug-dependent persons have been treated in a psychiatric agency, while 60.0% of them participated in rehabilitation program the last year. Logistic regression analysis revealed that being older, more educated with longer duration of homelessness, recognizing the suffering from a psychiatric problem as well as being diagnosed as 'psychotic' increased the likelihood to seek help.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The vast majority of the homeless mentally ill persons were lacking any current psychiatric care. The planning of a mental health-care delivery parallel to the existing social welfare system is needed to serve the unmet mental health needs of this population.
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, University of Athens Medical School, Greece.
authors.forename: Paraskevi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chondraki
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Athens, Greece madianos@nurs.uoa.gr.
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Madianos
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Soteria Athens General Hospital, Greece.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dragioti
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, University of Athens Medical School, Greece.
authors.forename: George N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Papadimitriou
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Athens; Greece; Homeless persons; mental health delivery care; psychiatric disorders